Citroen and Peugeot have cut EV price tags
Citroen C-Zero & Peugeot iOn
Citroen and Peugeot have reduced the price tag of the Citroen C-Zero and Peugeot iOn EVs by 6,939 pounds to 21,216 pounds, taking into account the 5000-pound plug-in car grant offered by the UK government. Both French automakers have said that the availability of the cars will be improved, as Peugeot said that the iOn will be available in 23 dealerships, while Citroen stated that its C-Zero is going to be sold at 11 dealers. Peugeot and Citroen have also launched new contract hire rates that cost from 249 pounds / month for a 3-year plan with 30,000 miles.
Both EVs are motivated by a rear-mounted electric motor that generates 64 hp, and both of them share the same 16 kWh, 88-cel lithium-ion battery which is installed under the center of the cars. Using a domestic socket will take six hours to fill up the battery pack which should be enough to offer a range of up to 93 miles with the condition that the AC system is turned off. The range of both cars while using the AC in high-traffic conditions is of approximately 46 miles
Starting with next year, both Peugeot and Citroen will launch electric vans, as the former will introduce the Partner electric van, while the latter will begin selling the electric Berlingo van. Both of them are going to be available in the United Kingdom with an 8,000 pounds EV grant offered by the government.
Source: PSA via Autocar
Post tags: Tags: Citroen, citroen c-zero, Green, Peugeot, peugeot ion
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Production-ready Renault Zoe Electric arrives in Geneva
Renault has brought to this year’s edition of the Geneva Motor Show the production-ready electric version of the Zoe which will have a base price of 15,700 Euros. For this money you will also be getting an integrated Renault R-Link multimedia tablet, while as standard it comes with automatic climate control and a Chameleon battery charger.
The tax-paid prices for the more premium versions, the Zen and Intens, begin from 17,500 Euros, while the tax-paid battery leases will cost from 79 Euros per month, part of a contract that covers 12,500 km annually for a three-year period.
According to the NEDC cycle, the Renault Zoe Electric will be able to offer a 210 km range but the French automaker says that in real cold conditions will manage to offer 100 km while in mild weather it should be capable of providing a driving range of 150 km.
This would have to be the very first EV that’s capable of being charged at any power level up to 43 kW with the integrated Chameleon charger between 30min and 9h. At a 22 kW fast-charge station, the electric version of the Zoe can be charged in only one hour.
The car is scheduled to go on sale in Europe this fall.
Source: Renault
Post tags: Tags: geneva-motor-show, Green, motor shows, Renault, renault zoe, renault zoe electric
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The Japanese automaker Toyota has introduced at the Geneva Motor Show the FT-Bh concept which has just about the same size as the company’s Yaris model, measuring 3,985 mm long, 1,400 mm tall and 1,695 mm wide. It weighs only 1,732 lbs (786 kg) and has a wheelbase of 2,570 mm.
The Toyota FT-Bh comes with a hybrid powertrain that consists of a small 1.0-liter, 2-cylinder Atkinson-cycle gasoline engine and an electric motor which allows the car to return 111.9 mpg (134.5 mpg UK or 2.1 liters / 100 km) and have CO2 emissions of only 49 g/km. This hybrid powertrain is heavier in comparison to the 3-cylinder 1.0-liter engine used in the Yars so they lowered the curb weight of the FT-Bh by about 750 lbs (340 kg) by reconfiguring the chassis, electronics, interior trim and the bodyshell.
Source: Toyota
Post tags: Tags: concept, geneva-motor-show, Green, Toyota, Toyota FT-Bh
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Tesla grabs $40 million worth of reservations for the Model X
In just one day after the official launch of the all-new Model X, Tesla Motors managed to register 500 reservations for the electric SUV which translates into about $40 million. The “Model X” term was the third most popular on Google while the traffic on the company’s teslamotors.com website increased by a whopping 2800%.
Even though some people said that with the launch of the Model X Tesla would kill the interest for the beautiful Model S sedan, reservations for the latter increased by 30%. Both of the cars will be available with the same three battery packs: 40 kWh, 60 kWh and the big boy 80 kWh pack.
One of the main reasons why the Tesla Model X is so popular is thanks to its wing doors that we normally see on very expensive sports cars. These doors can be opened in tight spaces thanks to the implementation of a center hinge that allows the car’s doors to fold a little bit in the middle while they are raised.
Another reason for its popularity is due to the huge interior space available. Even though the Model X has just about the same size as an Audi Q7, the interior cabin offers approximately 40% more space, enough room to accommodate no less than seven adults and their luggage.
The production for the Tesla Model X will start towards the end of next year at the company’s factory in Fremont, California. Deliveries are expected to commence in the first weeks of 2014 and Tesla hopes that they will be able to sell up to 15,000 cars annually.
Source: Tesla Motors
Post tags: Tags: Green, Tesla, tesla model x, tesla motors
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Geneva Preview – Toyota Yaris Hybrid
One of the many eco-friendly cars that we’ll see next month at the Geneva Motor Show is the Toyota Yaris Hybrid. The car will feature a 1.5-liter gasoline engine which will be 10% smaller and also 16.5 kg lighter than the 1.8-liter engine found in the Prius and the Auris models. Combined with the electric motor, the car will be able to provide a decent 99 hp.
Also reduced in size will be the electric driveline components, including here the motor itself, the transaxle and the Power Control Unit. All of these parts will be lighter, while the nickel-metal hydride battery has been installed by Toyota’s engineers under the rear seat which means that you get the same boot space as the conventional-powered Yaris.
When it will come out, the new Toyota Yaris Hybrid will be able to return 80 mpg UK which is going to make it more efficient than both the Auris (74 mpg UK) and the Prius (72 mpg UK) hybrids. No word at the moment about the CO2 emissions, but taking into consideration that the Prius and the Auris have 89 g/km CO2 emissions, the Yaris Hybrid should be able to hit the 85 g/km mark. One of its main competitors, the Honda Jazz Hybrid, is capable of returning only 62.8 mpg and has CO2 emissions of 104 g/km.
After its debut in March at the Geneva show, the Toyota Yaris Hybrid will be arriving in dealerships where it should be priced at somewhere around 15,000 pounds, making it approximately 1,000 pounds more affordable than the aforementioned Honda Jazz Hybrid.
Source: Toyota
Post tags: Tags: geneva, Green, Hybrid, Toyota, toyota yaris, toyota yaris hybrid
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The U.S.-spec 2012 Toyota Prius c made its debut last month during the Detroit Auto Show where the Japanese automaker said that it will have a base price of less than $19,000. A few days ago they’ve unveiled the price list for the car and indeed it will cost less than $19k. The cheapest version of the Prius c (Level One) will set you back $18,950, but this doesn’t include the $760 for delivery & handling.
The car is scheduled to go on sale next month and it is going to be available in four grade levels. Level Two costs from $19,900, Level Three from $21,635 while the high-end Level Four costs $23,230 and comes with 15-inch, 8-spoke alloy wheels, color-keyed heated power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators, Softex-trimmed heated front seats and integrated fog lamps.
Source: Toyota
Post tags: Tags: Green, Toyota, toyota prius, toyota prius c
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Last year, the electric vehicle sales in the United States reached 17,000 units, most of these cars being either the Nissan Leaf or the Chevrolet Volt. 2012 is going to be the year when more and more EV models will be introduced so at least theoretically we should see an increase in EV sales, especially since the Ford Focus Electric will become available in several areas. However, January was not a good month for these green cars, because Chevrolet sold only 603 Volts while Nissan delivered 676 Leafs.
This means that Chevrolet delivered only 39% of its December sales of 1,529 while Nissan managed to sell about 280 units less than they did in the last month of 2011. As far as Mitsubishi is concerned, they got 36 orders for the tiny “i” electric minicar. Tesla and Fisker continue to refuse publishing data regarding sales, even though the media has asked them to do so for several times.
One of the reasons why sales have been low in January is because the popularity of EVs during these cold winter months is reduced. A Chevrolet dealer said that because of the Volt’s reduced electric range when in colder temperatures, clients are not that eager to buy such a vehicle.
Source: Green Car Reports
Post tags: Tags: chevrolet-volt, ev, ford focus electric, Green, nissan leaf
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BMW prices 2012 ActiveHybrid 5 from $61,845
The German automaker BMW has published the price list for the 2012 ActiveHybrid 5 model which costs from $61,845 including here the $895 handling and destination fee. This means that the bimmer is approximately $8,000 more expensive than the Infiniti M Hybrid, but still $33,000 less than the hybrid version of the Porsche Panamera S.
All these three models have roughly the same acceleration performances, though the M Hybrid does the 0-62 mph sprint in 5.5 seconds, which is 0.2 quicker than the BMW. The inline turbocharged 6-cylinder engine develops 300 hp while the electric motor also delivers 54 hp and it is paired with a lithium-ion battery pack. In electric mode, the car will be able to provide a range of up to only 2.5 miles at an average speed of 22 mph, while the top speed is around 37 mph.
Source: BMW via Motor Authority
Post tags: Tags: BMW, bmw activehybrid, bmw activehybrid 5, Green
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Honda has sold 800,000 hybrids so far
The Japanese automaker Honda has announced the other day that since they introduced the Insight back in 1999, they’ve managed to sell more than 800,000 hybrids so far. This milestone was achieved in December last year and it was achieved 12 years and 2 months after the Insight hit Japan in November 1999. This performance is not as impressive as Toyota’s one million Priuses sold back in April 2011 in the U.S.
Anyway, the first generation of the Honda Insight managed to return 82.3 mpg (35km/liter or 2.9 liters / 100 km) on the Japanese driving cycle, which for those days made it the fuel efficient gasoline-powered vehicle.
Over the years, Honda introduced new models to its hybrid lineup, like the Civic Hybrid and the Accord Hybrid. Both these models come with the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) hybrid system. Honda has also introduced the CR-Z sports hatch and a new Insight hatchback. At the moment, the automaker offers seven hybrids. The company’s plans are to introduce the very first Acura hybrid in the United States, a model that is based on the ILX compact sedan.
Source: Honda
Post tags: Tags: Green, Honda, Hybrid
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Lotus Elise-based PG Elektrus priced at $312,400
What we have here is an electric roadster based on the Lotus Elise which has an electric motor that is powered by a lithium-ion battery. It was developed by the German automaker PG and Dusseldorf-based automobile designer Michael Frohlich.
The body of the car is covered in carbon fiber in order to diminish the weight of the vehicle. Another interesting feature would have to be the solar panel that the automaker has installed behind the driver. It’s role is to collect the energy of the sun and convert it into electricity for powering up the batteries.
The car’s electric motor is capable of generating 272 hp and 258.2 lb.-ft (350 Nm) of torque, which according to the carmaker should be enough for a 0-62 mph sprint in less than 3 seconds, on its way to a maximum speed of 186 mph (300 km/h).
Also on board of the PG Elektrus is a special audio-based system that allows the driver of the electric roadster to choose from a range of sounds that imitate real engine sounds, including here an F1 car or a full-bodied V8. The company said that the car is capable of providing a driving range of up to 217 miles (350 km).
Their plans are to manufacture 667 units of the Elektrus, and each of these will come with a starting price of $312,400 (240,000 euros).
Source: PG Elektrus
Post tags: Tags: Green, lotus elise, PG Elektrus
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Honda starts delivering the 2012 Fit EV
Honda has started delivering the new 2013 Fit EV model and the delivery of the very first unit has been marked by a special ceremony at the Torrance City Hall. Pretty soon the car will be introduced to the markets in California and Oregon.
As you remember, the 2013 Honda Fit EV has been unveiled last year in November at the Los Angeles Motor Show. It features a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery that feeds 123 hp (125 PS / 92 kW) coaxial electric motor. The car is capable of travelling for up to 123 miles (198 km) on a single charge. Once the battery is depleted, it will take about three hours to fill it up.
Source: Honda
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2012 Toyota Prius
Set to go on sale in March, the 2012 Toyota Prius is going to have a base price of 21,350 pounds in the United Kingdom. It will be offered in three trim levels, the most expensive one being Prius T Spirit which will cost 24,620 pounds. This revised model was revealed in September 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and comes with a bunch of updates inside and out.
The 2012 Toyota Prius comes with a new look for the front bumper that now features daytime running lights, clear headlamps that have an updated LED lamp configuration, along with new tail lamp graphics and new designs for the alloy wheels. Inside, the car comes with new seats in the front, new upholstery and softer-touch surfaces.
2012 Toyota Prius
The Japanese automaker has raised the equipment levels, and now the company’s touchscreen control system is offered as standard on all three trim levels. The automaker mentioned that they’ve also updated the steering column and the suspension in order to improve steering and comfort feel.
The hybrid hardware has remained the same, consisting of a 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle gasoline engine that has a CVT gearbox and also an electric motor that allows the 2012 Prius to return 72.4 mpg UK in the combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 89 h/km. The models that run on the 17-inch alloys can return 70.6 mpg UK and have CO2 emissions standing at 92 g/km.
Source: Toyota via Carscoop
Post tags: Tags: Green, Toyota, toyota prius, uk, united-kingdom
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2013 Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTec Hybrid
Mercedes unveiled last week at the Detroit Motor Show the most efficient E-Class model ever built, which is also the most efficient large executive car out there. Set to go on sale this summer, the car has a 4-cylinder, 2.1-liter diesel engine that generates 201 hp and is boosted by a 20 kW electric motor.
Along with the lithium-ion battery pack, the car is capable of returning 67.3 mpg UK and has CO2 emissions of only 109 g/km, which is considerably better in comparison to the current class leader, the BMW 520d EfficientDynamics (non-hybrid) that returns 62.8 mpg UK and has CO2 emissions of 119 g/km.
However, we should mention that the BMW costs 30,435 pounds while the Mercedes will cost somewhere around 40,000 pounds. We don’t have any official details regarding the performance of the car, but we should expect a 0-62 mph sprint in approximately 7 seconds.
The Mercedes-Benz E300 BlueTEC HYBRID has a stop/start system and a “ sailing mode” where the power unit is switched off when the car is driven up to cruising speed on the highway, thus allowing the aforementioned electric motor power the sedan. This hybrid system will also be available for the estate model and it doesn’t occupy any of the boot space thanks to its compact configuration.
Source: Mercedes-Benz via Auto Express.co.uk
Post tags: Tags: detroit motor show, Green, mercedes, mercedes e300 bluetec hybrid, Mercedes-Benz, motor shows, naias
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Toyota RAV4 EV
Created in partnership with Tesla Motors, Toyota unveiled this week at the 2012 Detroit Motor Show the EV version of the RAV4. As you would expect, the electric model is based on the conventional-powered RAV4 and has a front-wheel drive configuration.
It features a 150 hp electric motor that is linked to a big 50 kWh battery. We say big because the one that the Nissan Leaf has is able to store up to 24 kWh so it’s more than double the size. Charging from a conventional plug socket takes about 12 hours due to the size of the batteries.
With a full charge, the Toyota RAV4 EV is able to provide a range of up to 150 miles and should offer similar performances to a 6-cylinder-powered cars. It will be able to do the 0-62 mph sprint in a decent 9 seconds, on its way to an electronically limited top speed of 100 mph. These are some pretty good figures coming from an electric vehicle.
The good news is that Toyota has already started the production of the car but the thing is that they will make only a few hundred of them while the company evaluates the batter technology provided by Tesla. In addition, they also have to figure out the customer driving habits. The company’s purpose is “to grow trust in the product, and gain experience.”
Aside from this EV, Toyota is also working hard on an electric version of the petite iQ which in the United States will be sold as a Scion starting with this year. This one offers a range of only 50 miles so it probably won’t be sold to the general public. Instead, it will most likely be leased to car sharing schemes and clubs, in an attempt to learn more about how these cars manage to do in today’s harsh traffic conditions. As we reporter in previous articles, the car will be manufacture at one of Toyota’s factories, not at Tesla Motors.
It seems that the automotive industry is going greener and greener, which some consider to be a good thing. We will let you be the judge of that.
Source: Toyota via Auto Express
Post tags: Tags: detroit motor show, Green, motor shows, naias, Toyota, toyota rav4, toyota rav4 ev
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Tata eMO EV
The Indian automaker Tata has brought to this year’s edition of the Detroit Motor Show a new concept. Known as the eMO EV, it carries an estimated MSRP of $20,000, but the company doesn’t have any plans of mass producing this vehicle.
Tata eMO EV
eMO comes from Electric Mobility, and this concept has a dual-motor, liquid-cooled, front-wheel drive drivetrain that is coupled with an air-cooled 18.4 kW high-energy / density battery. The Tata eMO EV concept is part of the Michelin Challenge Design and it is capable of hitting a maximum speed of 65 mph (105 km/h). Tata said that on a single charge the car can be driven for up to 100 miles (161 km).
Tata eMO EV
The suspension of the eMO EV has an independent lower A arm and MacPherson struts in the front, while at the back it has a semi-trailing link with separate mounting shock absorbers and springs. The stopping power is provided by front disc brakes and rear drum brakes that are antilock with electronically stability control. The steering of the concept is handled by the electric power-assisted rack and pinion system.
Tata eMO EV
Source: Tata Motors via WCF
Post tags: Tags: detroit motor show, Green, Tata, tata emo ev
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